Under which conditions should I buy an extra ticket for my luggage on public transport in Sofia?
Here in Sofia (Bulgaria) when using the tram/metro/bus you not only need to buy a ticket for yourself but also one for each piece of (large) luggage you carry with you.
I read about this in a guide book but it is not well advertised on the vehicles, considering I don't speak Bulgarian and have not fully mastered the Cyrillic alphabet.
On the metro in Budapest the same rule exists, but at least there are signs in English and they also tell you how big your bags are suppose to be to fall under this rule.
You may think that as a foreigner you could try to avoid a fee when a inspector caught you and pretend you did not know, but I've heard of cases where this did not work.
So when should I buy the extra ticket?
Best Answer
Some years ago in Ukraine I took the trolley bus from Simferopol to Yalta and I was charged a (small) extra fee for my luggage. However, the unique experience of doing this trip by bus was worth it ;-)
You may think that as a foreigner you could try to avoid a fee when a conductor caught you and pretend you did not know, but I've heard of cases where this did not work
Yep. Their argument is (rightly, IMO) that being the foreigner does not exempt you from knowing the rules ...
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How do I use Sofia public transport?
Traveling by bus, trolleybus and tramway Upon boarding any of the buses, trolleybuses and trams, that have a validator, it is enough to bring your debit or credit card close to a validator. The price of a single trip travel card is 1.60 BGN. There are validators located in the most of the buses, trolleybuses and trams.How do you pay for the bus in Sofia?
Passengers on buses, trams and trolleybuses in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia can now pay their fares by simply tapping their physical contactless credit or debit card or a digital card uploaded to their NFC mobile wallet on an on-board reader.How do you use the bus in Sofia Bulgaria?
Buses, trolleybuses, and tramsIf you don't have a transportation card, you must buy a ticket from the driver or at kiosks located at some of the busier bus stops. It's best to have exact change when buying from the bus driver. After purchasing, tickets must be validated at one of the perforators on board.How do I use Sofia metro?
Tickets can be bought at ticket machines at the entrances of the metro stations or at cashier's desk of Metropolitan EAD. The ticket should be validated at the barriers at the entrance to the metro stations. The tickets is valid to travel in the metro within 30 minutes from the issue hour.Sofia Airport to Sofia city center... the easiest, quickest and cheapest way
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Answer 2
I checked two other guide books and found this:
DK Eyewitness Travel Bulgaria:
This rule is, however, only really enforced to and from the airport. Within the city it is widely ignored.
The Rough Guide to Bulgaria:
Officially, you’re supposed to buy an extra ticket for each large item of baggage, but in practice this is rarely enforced - except on buses to and from the airport, where inspectors deliberately pick on foreigners on the grounds that they’re less likely than the locals to put up an argument.
I talked about this with the two local girls at the reception of my hostel and they said the statements above are not true, they also check on other routes in the city.
So to be on the save side, find out the size of you luggage and if it larger than 60x40x40 cm, always buy an extra ticket.
Answer 3
I bought an extra ticket for my backpack for a bus ride from Sofia airport to the city center. The girl selling the bus tickets told me to do this.
The bus eventually got crowded, so I realized the ticket wasn't for a bus seat, but for taking up room in the bus. I would have felt embarrassed taking up two seats, when there are elders coming on the bus.
The ticket is only 1 BGN (0.67 USD), so I would buy an extra when going to and from the airport with your luggage.
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